Glass and Tire Recycling Program in Blount County

By Genesis Haller and Brittney Whipple

Blount County is striving toward a more sustainable future with recycling programs that transform waste into valuable resources. From glass recycling to tire waste repurposing, these initiatives reduce landfill contributions and create materials that benefit local infrastructure and save resources.

Blount County Glass Recycling Program

Blount County’s glass recycling efforts began in September 2022, allowing residents to drop off their glass at the Recycling Center. This program, managed by the Blount County Highway Department, has expanded to collect glass from Monroe County, Blackberry Farm, 4th and Glass, and the University of Tennessee’s Office of Sustainability public drop-off. 

Glass pulverizer at the Blount County Highway Department

A specialized glass pulverizer purchased through an EPA Solid Waste Management Assistance Grant is used to process up to 10 tons of glass per hour. This produces a byproduct in various sizes from fine sand to 3/8 inch gravel with rounded edges, making it safe for multiple uses.

Pulverized glass fresh out of the machine

What can you do with recycled glass?

The 3/8th inch glass gravel will be used in highway projects as a substitute for aggregate, shoulder stone, pipe bedding, and underlay for walking trails.

The Highway Department recently used the finer sanded material in winter treatments of our roads. Testing will soon be underway to use this finer material to improve the reflectivity of the paint used in road striping. This finer sanded product will also benefit non-highway-related projects as well, such as grouting, landscaping, sandblasting, playgrounds, and even sand traps on golf courses. The Highway Department is also working with the University of Tennessee’s Department of Agriculture to test the use of the finer sand as a soil amendment.

3/8 inch, fine, and super fine recycled glass product

Benefits of Glass Recycling

• Glass waste is sourced locally, reducing transportation emissions.

• Recycled glass replaces purchased materials, which saves county funds.

• Helps preserve natural resources (quarry rock)

• Ability to quantitatively measure the amount of glass waste diverted from the landfill (around 355,000 lbs so far!)

Tire Recycling and its Uses

Tire waste presents a unique challenge, as it cannot be disposed of in landfills. Through a partnership with Liberty Tire Recycling and support from a TDEC grant, Blount County is tackling this issue with the tire recycling program.

The recycling process begins at the Blount County landfill, where tires are collected and picked up by Liberty Tire. These tires are transported to Liberty Tire’s facility in Calhoun, Georgia.

For a tire to be recycled, it is first shredded and the steel wire is pulled out with magnets. The steel wire is baled and sold to rebar manufacturers, while the rubber is turned into crumb and sold in 1-ton bags. This rubber is now ready to be repurposed for various uses, such as:

• Sports Surfaces: Tracks and turfs

• Playgrounds: Rubber mulch

• Molded Products: Items like hoses and barriers.

• Tire-derived Fuel 

• Asphalt Rubber

Asphalt Rubber

The Blount County Highway Department will then purchase the recycled tire product from Liberty Tire. This product, SmartMix, will be sent to Harrison Construction, who paves Blount County roads. The SmartMix product will be incorporated into asphalt, producing roads that are:

• Durable: Lasts longer and is more resistant to cracks, fading, and temperature fluctuations.

• Quieter: Reduces road noise.

• Safer: Less splash and spray during wet conditions.

This initiative, funded by a TDEC grant, partners with the University of Tennessee Department of Engineering to optimize the mix for local roads.

Virtual Recycling Center Tour

By Brittney Whipple and Genesis Haller

Welcome to the Blount County Recycling Center!

The Blount County Recycling Center (BCRC) opened in December of 2017 and is managed by the Blount County Highway Department. The BCRC is open to City of Alcoa, City of Maryville, and Blount County residents. The BCRC is located at 331 Levi St. in Maryville and is open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 8 AM- 4:30 PM.

The BCRC accepts mixed paper, metal cans, plastics, corrugated cardboard, newspapers, glass, oil-based paint, 4ft and 8ft fluorescent tubes, used motor oil, and other forms of household hazardous waste. The center has three large bins: single stream recycling, corrugated cardboard recycling, and newspaper recycling. Additionally, there is a smaller blue bin for glass recycling. Household Hazardous waste is stored in a shipping container on site and alongside the office.

The BCRC does NOT accept styrofoam, plastic bags and film, disposable silverware/straws/napkins, food waste, trash, latex paint, electronics, appliances, batteries, or other light bulbs. Please refer to the recycling and hazardous waste webpages at KeepBlountBeautiful.org to stay up to date on what is accepted and unaccepted for recycling. 

Single Stream Recycling

Single stream recycling means that all recyclables are mixed together in the same bin rather than sorted by material. The materials are separated later at West Rock Recycling in Knoxville. The single stream bin has a compactor to pack the recyclables and fit as much as possible.

The single stream bin at the BCRC accepts mixed paper (office paper, junk mail, paper bags, paperboard, magazines, paperback books, aseptic containers), metal cans (aluminum and steel), and plastics (currently #1 and #2 plastics are being recycled. NO plastic film or bags). 

Corrugated Cardboard

Corrugated cardboard has three layers of paper and mostly includes moving boxes and shipping boxes. Although corrugated cardboard is considered single stream, the county can sell it directly to WestRock when separated. Like the single stream bin, the corrugated cardboard bin has a compactor so boxes do not need to be broken down.

The corrugated cardboard bin has a compacter that smashes all of the cardboard to the back to fit as much as possible.

Newspaper

The newspaper bin is for newspapers only. Although newspaper is considered single stream recycling, it is end-of-life paper that has reached the end of its life span, so it is separated for efficiency. Paper can only be recycled about 7 times before its fibers are too small to make new paper products. 

Designated bin for newspapers only.

Glass

Blount County began its glass recycling initiative in 2021 with grant funds from TDEC. The Blount County Highway Department was able to purchase a pulverizer that pulverizes the glass waste into a fine sand material. This material is then used as various forms of aggregate in county projects, saving money and natural resources. As of May 2024, the BCRC has collected 450,000 lbs. of glass waste for recycling. 

Glass Pulverizer

The blue “Glass Only” bin at the BCRC is the only location in Blount County where glass is accepted. Glass should not go in your curbside bin or in the City of Maryville Recycling Center bins.

All colors of glass are accepted and do not need to be sorted. Caps and lids should be removed, but paper labels can stay on. Please do not place laminated glass, ceramics, or pottery in the glass bin. 

Household Hazardous Waste

Since December 2018, the recycling center has operated a hazardous waste collection facility. This facility is funded by a TDEC grant and replaced a collection event that happened just once every year. Now, hazardous waste disposal is accessible year-round.

Hazardous waste is harmful to the environment and cannot be thrown away with your normal trash. Household hazardous waste includes any toxic, corrosive, reactive, or flammable waste. This includes chemicals, cleaning products, automotive products, home improvement products, mercury thermometers/thermostats, lawn chemicals, and more. 

Items that are not accepted include medical waste, gunpowder or ammunition, smoke detectors, etc. For a full list of accepted and unaccepted items for Household Hazardous Waste, visit here.

Hazardous Waste Collection Facility (made of an old shipping container)

Oil-based paint

Oil-based paint is the only paint that can be disposed of at the Recycling Center. This type of paint is flammable, therefore it is considered as household hazardous waste. All oil-based paint should be used up, given away, or brought to the Recycling Center for proper disposal.

The Recycling Center does not include latex (water) based paint because it is not toxic. Latex paint can be mixed with cat litter, sand, shredded paper, sawdust, or a paint hardener to dry. Once dried, the paint can be disposed of with your regular household garbage.

Fluorescent tubes (4ft and 8 ft) and Used Motor Oil

4ft and 8ft fluorescent tubes are accepted for recycling at the center. This does not include fluorescent bulbs or other lightbulbs.

The Recycling Center also accepts used motor oil, which is used to heat the Blount County Operations Center. 

Schedule a tour of the Blount County Recycling Center

Want to see it for yourself? Schedule a Blount County Recycling Center tour with Keep Blount Beautiful by filling out the form on our website or emailing programs@keepblountbeautiful.org.

Virtual Landfill Tour

By Brittney Whipple and Genesis Haller

Welcome to the virtual Alcoa/Maryville/Blount County Landfill tour! 

Before the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was created and outlawed open dump sites, Blount County had various community dumps, the largest being in Alcoa. Unlike a dump, which is an unregulated, unsanitary, and illegal site for depositing garbage, a landfill is a regulated and sanitary area of excavated land used for the purpose of storing waste. In 1974, the City of Alcoa, City of Maryville, and Blount County partnered to create a sanitary landfill. 

The landfill is operated by 17 staff members: a manager, Sr. lead worker, lead workers, heavy equipment operators, service workers, and a mechanic. The landfill is owned by the City of Alcoa, City of Maryville, and Blount County and is operated by the City of Alcoa.

Scalehouse

The first stop at the landfill is the scalehouse. When either a commercial or personal vehicle comes to the landfill with waste, it must be weighed. After the waste is disposed of, the vehicle exits through the scalehouse to be weighed again. The difference is taken from the first and second weighing to see how much garbage was dropped off, and therefore how much to charge.

The landfill used to be funded by tax dollars. However, that was changed in 1992 to a tipping fee system. This system is more effective because it guarantees the landfill has sufficient funds to keep up with operating costs. It costs $58/ton to drop off solid municipal and demolition waste, with a minimum of $14.50 for loads that weigh under 500 pounds. Each day, there are around 447 tons of waste that enter the landfill (this includes household, demolition, and special waste).

Vehicles entering and exiting via the scalehouse at the entrance of the landfill

Recycling

Although household recycling is not accepted at the landfill, tires, large appliances, electronics, used motor oil, empty propane tanks, and scrap metal are accepted for recycling.

The landfill has a contract with Liberty Tire to recycle tires. Tires that can still be used are resold and those that cannot be reused are recycled into other items such as rubber mulch, crumb rubber, highway barriers, parking blocks, and even be mixed into pavement. Tire-derived fuel is another use for recycled tires. The landfill works with Blount County Iron and Metal to recycle large appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, washers/dryers, hot water heaters, etc. The landfill has a contract with Scott Recycling to collect electronics such as computers, computer equipment, TV equipment, and medical equipment.

Refrigerators collected for recycling

Air Curtain Incinerator

Rather than burying brush waste and taking up space in the landfill, brush waste and wooden pallets are burned to ashes in an air curtain destructor. Air curtain destructors are designed primarily as a pollution control device and use a propane torch and a large fan with an electric engine to generate a curtain of air. This curtain of air acts as a trap over the top of the burn chamber. The wood debris is dumped into the chamber and ignited with the propane torch. Once the fire has gained strength, the air curtain is turned on. The air curtain traps most of the smoke particles and causes them to re-burn directly under the air curtain at a temperature of 1800 degrees F. These machines do not inject any fuels into the fire; the fire is sustained only by adding more wood feedstock.

The incinerator (shown above) runs twice a week

Brush waste and wood pallets are accepted at the landfill

Open Cell

The landfill is made up of many cells, which are single units within the whole landfill. The open cell is where solid waste is currently being dumped. After leaving the scalehouse, garbage trucks bring their load to the current open cell to dump. Heavy machinery operators drive over the trash to compact it as much as possible. Once the trash reaches the height limit, it is covered with dirt and they start another layer of trash. Every night the trash is covered with thick, heavy plastic to help keep trash in place and animals away. 

Leachate, Stormwater Runoff, and Methane

There are two types of landfill cells: Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and demolition waste. It is ideal to keep these two forms of waste separate because demolition waste does not require a leachate collection system at the bottom of the cell. Leachate, the contaminated liquid produced from household garbage, needs to be collected and treated before it can be released back into our local creeks. Additionally, stormwater becomes contaminated when it runs off landfill cells. The landfill collects stormwater runoff in two retention ponds. The water in these ponds is treated and released into Pistol Creek. 

Methane is a greenhouse gas produced from the rotting and breaking down of waste in the landfill. The methane gas is passively vented using gas wells throughout the landfill to aerate landfill waste, diluting the gas to tolerable levels before discharging it.

Collection pond at bottom of open cell

Capped Cell (Blount County Model Aviator Field)

When a cell can no longer accept any more waste, it is considered capped. When a cell is capped, grass is planted on top and it looks like any other grassy hill. The landfill currently has three capped cells, and one of them is used by the Blount County Model Aviators. Capped cells could also be used as parks or other recreational uses. Permanent structures cannot be built on capped cells because the ground is unstable and will sink as the layers of garbage beneath break down over time.

Capped cell in use

Convenience Center

Residents are able to bring their household garbage to the landfill’s Convenience Center bin if they choose to not have curbside pickup or simply have additional waste. This bin is only for household garbage. Demolition waste would need to be disposed of in a cell.

The Convenience Center is for household garbage only

Schedule a landfill tour

Want to learn more and see it for yourself? Schedule a landfill tour with Keep Blount Beautiful by filling out the form on our website or emailing programs@keepblountbeautiful.org. Please note that all participants including KBB staff will need to be on the same vehicle, such as a school bus or van. Accommodations may be made- contact our office with any questions and we can work with your situation. 

Celebrating Arbor Day

By Genesis Haller

Arbor Day is a day for encouraging groups and individuals to plant trees, but it’s also a celebration of all the vital roles trees play in both our lives and the environment!

The Roots of Arbor Day

Arbor Day was founded by J. Sterling Morton, who first proposed this holiday focused on planting trees on January 4, 1872, at the State Board of Agriculture meeting. Morton had a strong enthusiasm for greenery and plants and would note the lack of trees in Nebraska during this time. He suggested that a set day to plant trees would encourage residents to participate in increasing their tree canopy. The first official Arbor Day was set for April 10, 1872, and more than 1 million trees were planted. In 1885, Arbor Day became a legal state holiday in Nebraska. By 1920, 45 states and territories began celebrating Arbor Day. Today, all 50 states are on board. State Arbor Days vary to coincide with the best weather and time of year for planting, but the most common date is the last Friday in April - National Arbor Day! 

Why Are Trees Important?

Trees act as nature’s filtration system by helping clean the air we breathe and the water we drink. Trees also serve as the habitat for most of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity and stabilize soil to prevent erosion. Additionally, they help in combating climate change. Trees absorb and store harmful greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide, and release oxygen back into the atmosphere. On top of the long list of benefits trees provide us, they contribute to the natural beauty of our landscape and can improve mental health by enhancing green spaces for relaxation and recreation.

Arbor Day reminds us that every tree we plant contributes to a more sustainable and healthier world. As we celebrate this day, remember that the efforts we make today benefit generations to come. By planting trees, raising awareness, and supporting conservation, we can help create a greener future for everyone.

Navigating Recycling Guidelines in Blount County

By Genesis Haller

Residents of the City of Alcoa, City of Maryville, and Blount County have access to recycling services, and understanding what can and cannot be recycled is crucial for effective waste management.

Recyclable Items:

1. Mixed paper  

2. Aluminum and steel cans

3. Plastic #1-2

4. Corrugated cardboard

5. Glass: only accepted at the Blount County Recycling Center ‘Glass Only’ bin. Please do not put glass in your curbside bin or at the Maryville convenience center bins.

Non-Recyclable Items:

1. Plastic bags, plastic film, bubble wrap, plastic cutlery, etc.

2. Mylar food wrappers: silver packaging, such as candy wrappers

3. Food waste

4. Scrap metal other than steel and aluminum cans only

5. Styrofoam

6. Aluminum foil or pans

7. Household Hazardous Waste

8. Electronics

9. Yard waste

10. Tires

11. Hoses, electrical cords, Christmas lights

How to Effectively Recycle

Before recycling any item, be sure to clean/rinse out any recyclables as best as you can. Containing recyclables in a plastic bag can make it easier to store and carry, but make sure to dump them out of the bag so the recycling is loose in the bin. 

Where to Recycle

Blount County Recycling Center is available to everyone in the City of Alcoa, City of Maryville, and Blount County. The center has four separate containers: single-stream, corrugated cardboard, newspaper, and glass. Single-stream handles mixed paper, paperboard, aluminum and steel cans, and plastic #1-2 all in one container. All other items would go in their respective bins. If you have recyclables that Blount County does not currently accept, check with UT’s 24/7 Public Drop-off to see if your items may be accepted there.

City of Maryville residents also have access to the two City of Maryville recycling centers. These centers include bins that are single-stream. City of Alcoa residents have access to curbside bins provided by the city. For more information, contact the appropriate sanitation department. 

What is recycling contamination, and why does it matter?

Recycling contamination is when a non-recyclable item ends up in the recycling process. Contamination can look different everywhere because each recycling facility differs on what is accepted. For example, plastic bags and film are not recyclable at the Blount County Recycling Facility and are considered contamination. Contamination can affect the quality of recycled materials, cause an extra trip to the landfill, and harm machinery and workers at the recycling facility. We all have good intentions when recycling, but it is important to be aware of recycling in our community to ensure it is as effective as possible. 

Tennessee Tree Day

By Genesis Haller

As the lingering cold of winter gradually fades away, the lively anticipation of spring is on the verge of blossoming in Tennessee! With warmer days on the horizon, it's the perfect time to usher in the season by planting native trees and embracing the beauty of our local environment. Fortunately, the Tennessee Environmental Council is offering an exciting opportunity to get involved with their upcoming Tennessee Tree Day event on March 16th and 17th. Act quickly – there are only 4 days left to reserve your seedlings and be part of this green initiative!

Why Native Plants Matter:

Native plants are crucial in maintaining the delicate balance of local ecosystems. Well-adapted to Tennessee's unique climate and soil conditions, these plants provide essential habitat for wildlife, support biodiversity, and contribute to the overall health of our environment. By planting native species, you're not just beautifying your surroundings; you're actively participating in the preservation and restoration of Tennessee's natural heritage.

Act Fast – Only 4 Days Left to Reserve Your Seedlings:

This event will allow participants to receive native tree seedlings to plant in their yards, community spaces, or local parks, but time is of the essence! With just 4 days remaining to reserve your seedlings for Tree Day, now is the perfect moment to secure your spot. Visit the Tennessee Tree Day website to make your reservation today!

How to Reserve Your Seedlings:

1. Visit the Website: Head to the Tennessee Tree Day website.

2. Choose Your Pickup Site: Select Keep Blount Beautiful as your pickup location on the map.

3. Select Your Seedlings: Browse the available native tree species and choose the ones best suited for your area or personal preferences. A few options that are currently available include River Birch, Tulip Poplar, and Baldcypress.

4. Complete Reservation: Provide the necessary details and secure your spot for pickup. Pick up your trees at Keep Blount Beautiful on Friday, March 15th from 9 AM-5 PM or Saturday, March 16th from 10 AM-1 PM. Tree seedlings should be planted the weekend of March 16th.

Spring is the season of growth and renewal, and what better way to embrace it than by planting native trees? Act now, reserve your seedlings, and let's collectively sow the seeds of a more vibrant Tennessee!

Compostable v. Biodegradable

by Elaia Vardanyan

There can be a lot of confusion with all of the different labels on eco-friendly products. Today, I’d like to highlight the differences between compostable products and biodegradable products to help you decide which is best for your needs. All compostable products are biodegradable, but not all biodegradable products are compostable. This alone can be confusing. Let me explain.

All compostable products are considered biodegradable because they will break down, but only under the controlled conditions required for compost. Biodegradable just means that the product will break down naturally over time, but may not be appropriate for your compost chemically. Compostable products break down into just humus; the dark organic matter you hope for when your compost is ready for the garden. However, biodegradable products break down into a number of byproducts. Let’s focus on biodegradable plastics to dive into the specifics.

Biodegradable plastics are the most common product when you see the label has been marked ‘Biodegradable’. For this plastic to be compostable it cannot pose harm to plants or animals. These plastics do not always do well in personal composting and are more commonly broken down in industrial facilities designed with the necessary controlled conditions. That’s because it can still take much longer to break down, albeit less time than Petroleum based plastics. The issue we face is that there are not enough of these facilities and so for most people we must still throw it into the garbage. 

These bioplastics themselves have no carbon print, however this does not take into account the carbon produced by the facilities necessary to produce, distribute, or break them down. It has less carbon emission than traditional plastics but is still not optimal for waste reduction. These plastics fall into the #7 plastics category which is home to all “other” plastics with no process to recycle or compost. If they are compostable it will explicitly state ‘compostable’ next to the #7 symbol as well.

To wrap things up: If your product is marked ‘compostable’, you can toss it in your compost bin. If it’s a #7 plastic with ‘PLA’ or is only marked biodegradable it isn’t recommended for your compost and should be disposed of in the garbage bin. It will still take years to break down in a landfill despite its “eco-friendly” labeling. If you are going to buy plastic, it is best to buy one that is recyclable in your area instead. “Research, published in 2015, estimated that 8 million metric tons of plastic ends up in the oceans every year. That is the equivalent to five grocery bags of plastic trash for every foot of coastline around the globe.” The same study also showed that around 91% of plastic is not recycled. Let’s do our part in the world’s largest cleanup, one compost bin at a time.

References

Biodegradable Plastics: Standards, Policies, and Impacts - PMC (nih.gov)

Grappling with the infamous #7 PLA recycling code - McGill Compost

A Whopping 91 Percent of Plastic Isn’t Recycled (nationalgeographic.org)

Removing Invasive Plants from Townsend River Walk and Arboretum

By Karsen Gentry

As temperatures drop below freezing it’s nice to look back on warmer days such as our Invasive Plant Removal from December 7th. KBB, Little River Watershed Association, the Tuckaleechee Gardening Club and all of the amazing volunteers met at the from the Townsend River Walk & Arboretum to remove Winter Creeper, English Ivy, and Bush Honeysuckle. While you’ve probably seen these in your yard or in the case of Honeysuckle, even heard about it in a Dolly Parton song, how much do you actually know about these tricky plants?

Winter Creeper

Winter Creeper is an evergreen perennial vine that was introduced as an ornamental groundcover. This plant is native to China, Japan, and Korea. While this plant looks lovely, even keeping its green through the winter months, don’t let it fool you! Winter Creeper is a vine that can quickly take over everything in its path. The volunteers removed Winter Creeper by pulling up the roots. Winter Creeper, if not disposed of correctly, will take root again so it was important that the vines were bagged to prevent further growth.

English Ivy

English Ivy is an aggressive vine that was also introduced for ornamental purposes. This plant is native to Europe and was brought to the U.S. by settlers. English Ivy grows quickly and takes over large areas where it displaces native vegetation. Volunteers helped to remove English Ivy from the river walk where it was placed in trash bags for removal. 

Bush Honeysuckle

Bush Honeysuckle is a shrub originally from Asia. This shrub can quickly take over the understory in a woodland. It leafs out early in the season, essentially stealing sunlight from native plants. Bush Honeysuckle also produces berries which are eaten by birds who then distribute the seeds elsewhere. Volunteers removed the Bush Honeysuckle by pulling the whole plant out, root and all. The shrub was then collected to be burned later.

Thanks to all the volunteers and our friends at the Little River Watershed and the Tuckaleechee Garden Club for helping with the invasive removal! A special shout out to all who volunteered with us this year! Whether at the invasive removal or a local cleanup, our volunteers made a huge impact in keeping Blount County beautiful! See you in 2020!

KBB in the Community

A Week in Review (October 14th-20th)

By Karsen Gentry

It seems fall has finally made its presence known here in East Tennessee. We here at Keep Blount Beautiful have been taking full advantage of the cooler temperatures by leading field trips to the landfill, planting trees, and cleaning up Pistol Creek.

The week got off to a good start with two field trips to the landfill with the Second Grade class from Carpenters Elementary. These classes learned all about how Blount County manages its waste. We started our tour by learning how tires can be recycled into new products. Along the way, we also learned about e-waste and why we recycle our old electronics. Finally, we ended our tour by visiting a new cell in the landfill where our waste gets buried by bulldozers.

After completing the tour, the second graders made their way over to our Eco-Center to eat lunch and learn more about how we dispose of our waste. The students were encouraged to bring a lunch that produced little to no waste. After they were finished eating they also had the opportunity to sort what little waste they had into bins for compost, recycling, and trash. Students then got to practice what they had learned in a team relay race where they had to sort everyday waste into compost, recycling, and trash. We hope that everyone had as much fun as we did and it is clear that the second graders at Carpenters Elementary will be great stewards for our environment!

After our eventful mornings with the students of Carpenter Elementary, Keep Blount Beautiful made it out to William Blount High School to dig holes to prepare for the school’s planting event the following week. This year Keep Blount Beautiful was awarded $5,000 dollars by Keep America Beautiful and the UPS Foundation to give kids in Blount County an opportunity to make their community greener and help them make a connection with their environment.  

Rounding out the week on Saturday, the folks at KBB partnered with the City of Alcoa, Blount County Soil Conservation District, and the Little River Watershed Association to clean up Pistol Creek. Our group of over 21 volunteers was able to collect 61 bags of trash and 20 tires! We’d like to thank everyone who came out and helped us this weekend. Pistol Creek is much cleaner thanks to you! 

We’d like to thank everyone who made it to our events this past week! Be sure to check out our events page on our website or Facebook if you would like to get involved. We would love to see you there!

Snackscaping on your land

By Hannah Shinall

Snackscaping is a made-up term to mean that you have fruit/nut bearing trees and plants on your landscape. A huge benefit to growing these trees on your property is that you will have access to a yield of fresh, locally grown food. This will impact you, your local economy, and your carbon footprint in a positive direction.

Another advantage is that most fruit trees do well in both urban and suburban settings, making this an easy process no matter where you live. Some of the most popular fruit trees that are easy to maintain nationwide are apple, plum, damson, cherry, pear, elderberry, peach, and figs. However, due to East Tennessee’s mild climate and four seasons, trees that produce pears, apples, persimmons, black walnuts, and pecans will thrive more efficiently. These trees will also help to solve erosion issues and storm-water management in the area they are planted.

Snackscaping also offers the social benefit of helping people become connected to the growing process while also providing a nutritious food source and food security. Planting these trees also has a positive effect on the environment by reducing carbon-emissions, reducing energy costs, providing cleaner air, and providing green jobs within the community. 

Before planting any trees on your landscape, you should do some research or contact your local soil conservation district to be sure what you’re planting is not going to be invasive in its environment. 

Keep Blount Beautiful introduces new Reusable Bag Program

By Brittney Whipple

In order to limit plastic bag waste and the over accumulation of reusable bags, Keep Blount Beautiful (KBB) is starting a new Reusable Bag Program. Thank you to everyone who dropped off their unwanted reusable bags to KBB at the Earth Day Recycling collection on April 27th so that this program could get started!

Reusable bags seem to be one of the biggest eco-trends today. They seem like a good way to reduce waste caused by tons of disposable plastic bags, however so many of these bags are being produced and handed out or sold that they are becoming disposable themselves! Even worse, they are not recyclable. The Reusable Bag Program will give Blount County residents the opportunity to divert excess reusable bags from the landfill by allowing others to continue using the bag so they do not have to buy new.

To participate in the Reusable Bag Program, simply drop off your excess reusable bags at the Keep Blount Beautiful office. If you are in need of reusable bags in order to stop using plastic disposable bags, you can stop by the office to pick some up or visit our table at special events. Feel free to contact the office ahead of time for availability.

Invasive Plant Species in East Tennessee

By Mason Denman and Brittney Whipple

What is an invasive plant species?

An invasive plant species is a plant that is non-native to the area in which it is growing. Conversely, native plants have occurred in their area naturally for many years, so they have a strong relationship with the environment around them. Invasive species cause harm to the natural ecosystem because they become competition for native plants. Many invasive plants were intentionally introduced to the United States for reasons such as landscaping and erosion control, however it was easy for these plants to escape those bounds to spread rapidly in nature and out of our control.

Privet

Several species of Privet can be found throughout Tennessee; however, the two found most are Common privet (Ligustrum vulgare) and Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense). No species of Ligustrum are native in the United States. These plants were introduced in the late 1800s from China and Europe to be used in landscaping and gardens. Privet spreads rapidly in both forested and open areas by seed and sprouts. They are aggressive growers and tend to form dense thickets that shade out other plants. They are most invasive in riparian areas, where they can dominate the forest under story.

Privet is a semi-evergreen shrub that can grow to be 8-20 ft tall. In the late spring/early summer, privet produces small, white flowers.

Honeysuckle

Fairly common in Tennessee, the Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) is a mostly evergreen woody vine. Japanese honeysuckle was introduced in the early 1800s, as has since spread rapidly, displacing many native plants by blocking out sunlight and winding its vines around stems and trunks to stop water flow. Many animals are attracted to Japanese Honeysuckle, so it’s seeds are often unintentionally spread this way.

Japanese honeysuckle is mostly evergreen and has highly fragrant flowers that bloom from April-July.

Bush honeysuckle was imported to the United States in 1898. This plant leafs out earlier than most natives and forms dense thickets too shady for native plants to grow. It also tends to grow in disturbed environments, such as floodplains, and limits the amount of native plants that could resurface there. Although it’s red berries are somewhat nutritious to birds and rodents, they do not compare to the nutrition in berries produced by native plants for these animals.

Bush honeysuckle is a deciduous shrub that can grow up to 30 ft tall. In late spring, the shrub produces yellow/white flowers, and it late summer bright red berries appear.

Planting native species in East Tennessee

When planting new trees, shrubs, and plants, it is important to avoid planting invasive species. Planting native species will strengthen the ecosystem in our East Tennessee community by sustaining native animal species and limiting the number of invasive plants taking over. Native plants have adapted to the regional conditions around them, so East Tennessee natives are able to withstand the temperatures and weather patterns in our region, and may require less maintenance and fertilizers. It is important to take the time to research different trees, shrubs, and plants before planting and to be knowledgeable about the effects certain plants can have on the local ecosystem. The Tennessee State Government has provided a useful brochure about Landscaping with Native Plants in East Tennessee that can provide more information.

Join us for an Invasive Plant Removal event on May 4th!

Keep Blount Beautiful, the Little River Watershed Association, Blount County Soil Conservation District, and Tuckaleechee Garden Club will be hosting an Invasive Plant Removal of the Townsend River Walk and Arboretum on May 4th from 9am-12pm. Volunteers will be removing Privet, Honeysuckle, Mulitfloral Rose, and Mimosa from the area, as well as picking up trash. For more information and to sign up, visit our website.

The information and pictures in this article was obtained from the Tennessee State Government’s website. Learn more about invasive plants in Tennessee by visiting their Invasive Plants page.

Get Outside!

By Brittney Whipple

From childhood, we are told again and again that we need to spend time outdoors. This isn’t just something our parents chose to nag on us about though; being outside in nature has great benefits to our physical and mental health such as reducing stress, anxiety, and depression; improving concentration; improving eye health; boosting the immune system; and giving us a dose of Vitamin D. Also, chances are if you are outside you are moving around. Whether it is hiking, running, biking, or taking a walk, being outside is a valuable opportunity to get some exercise.

BUT- a lot of us are stuck inside at a desk all day, so when do we find the time to get outside? It’s important to remember that getting outside doesn't have to mean traveling far, participating in an extreme sport, or spending money on equipment and rentals. Simply choosing to just be outdoors more will have a positive impact on your well being.

Set the dinner table outside tonight

Do you have a patio, balcony, or even just a lawn chair? Why not take dinner outside tonight! Even at the end of the day when all we want to do is enjoy dinner and relax, you can find the time to get outdoors.

Skip the gym and visit the park

If the weather is nice, you could workout outside instead of in the gym. This will give you the chance to switch up your workout routine! Exercising outside can be much more exciting than the gym because of the fresh air and scenery. It could allow you to experience new things while also getting a workout, such as hiking a mountain trail.

Take a mid-day walk

Sometimes that mid-day grogginess can leave us feeling a lack of concentration. If you are feeling unproductive, take a moment to leave your desk and take a walk around the block to get your blood flowing. A short mental break with some fresh air will make you feel refreshed and ready to finish the day.

Leave your car keys

Often, we are so used to jumping in our cars we don’t think about how easy it would be to just walk. If you are able, errands are a great excuse to find the time to get outside. If the bank, store, or post office is just down the road, consider walking there!

Move hang-outs outdoors!

Although movie nights spent indoors are fun, there are plenty of other things we can do with our family and friends that will get us outside. How about going camping, or even just having a campfire? You could move your weekly coffee date outside to a table or to a park trail, visit the farmers market, or relax in a hammock instead of the couch.

Plan ahead

Take advantage of your weekends and free time! It’s easy to let our weekends slip away from us, but by planning ahead of time we can make sure we spend a free day outdoors.

One final thought- At Keep Blount Beautiful, we believe our community should be well taken care of and appreciated so it can be enjoyed by all. When you are spending time outside, leave no trace! Be sure to dispose of your trash in a trash can and always respect wildlife.

2019 BRAVO! Awards

By Brittney Whipple

Keep Blount Beautiful (KBB)  is accepting nominations for the 2019 BRAVO! Awards! What are the BRAVO! Awards? These awards praise local businesses, organizations, and public property for their landscaping and beautification efforts. KBB also recognizes properties that have creatively re-used/re-designed an existing building and the sustainable stewardship of properties in Blount County. Nominations are open to the public and based on the three award categories below.

BRAVO! Beautification: This award is given to properties for their landscaping and beautification efforts. The landscaping must be mature and add improvement to the site.

Reuse/Redesign: This award is for a property that has creatively reused or redesigned an existing building. The remodel must be complete.

Sustainable Stewardship: This award is given to a business or organization that strives to incorporate sustainable business practices or policies, and/or renewable, sustainable, or energy-efficient spaces.

Examples of Sustainable Stewardship include businesses and organizations that have a recycling program, practice effective stormwater management practices, or have sustainable workplace policies such as banning disposable cups and bottles. Other examples include businesses and organizations with sustainable building features such as large windows, energy efficient lighting, water efficient fittings, solar panels, or sufficient green space compared to paved space.

The BRAVO! Awards will be announced at the annual award luncheon on June 6th. This event is invite-only. KBB will announce award winners to the public after the luncheon. We look forward to your nomination!

Nominations are due by May 3rd. Private residencies are not considered for any award. Nominate a BRAVO!

2019 Blount County Great American Cleanup Schedule of events

By Brittney Whipple

What is the Great American Cleanup?

The Great American Cleanup is Keep America Beautiful’s 100-day community improvement program to encourage people to take action to improve and beautify their community. Keep Blount Beautiful celebrates the Great American Cleanup season with many events so YOU can help make Blount cleaner, greener, and more beautiful. The goal of these events is to encourage residents in Blount County to become engaged with their local environment and strengthen their community pride.

See below for the full event schedule. For more information and to sign up, visit our website, click on the event links in the schedule below, or contact the office at 865-681-4809 / keepblount@gmail.com.

Full Event Schedule:

Townsend Community Cleanup
Where: Townsend Visitors Center, 7906 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Townsend
When: Saturday, March 23rd
Time: 9am-12pm

City of Friendsville Cleanup
Where: Friendsville City Hall, 213 W College Ave, Friendsville
When: Saturday, March 30th
Time: 9am-12pm

Town of Louisville Cleanup
Where: Lousiville Town Hall, 3623 Louisville Rd, Louisville
When: Saturday, April 13th
Time: 8:30am-12pm

Earth Day Recycling Collection
Where: First Baptist Maryville, 202 W Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Maryville
When: Saturday, April 27th
Time: 10am-2pm

Invasive Species Pull with LRWA
Where: Townsend Riverwalk
When: Saturday, May 4th
Time: 9am-12pm

DASH for TRASH
Where: Round 6 Brewing, 427 Whitecrest Rd, Maryville
When: Saturday, May 11th
Time: 11am- 1pm

Don’t forget about Litter Committee!

Our monthly Litter Committee will continue through the Great American Cleanup. Join us the first Wednesday of each month from 4-5pm. Visit our website for date and location information.

Organize your own cleanup

Keep Blount Beautiful has all the supplies you will need to perform your own group litter pickup. Let us know if you would like us to help you plan something for your group!

Why Volunteering is Important!

By: Mason Denman

Volunteering for community service is important because volunteering is a way to be involved in your local community. Community service involvement teaches people of all ages and backgrounds compassion and understanding for the things around them and others. Volunteering and putting on service events is a great way to advocate for causes you are passionate about, such as recycling.

Community service can be the avenue you use to explore areas that interest you. There is no limit to how much you can volunteer: You can volunteer for as much as you like, or have time for, which can give you a sense of pride and fulfillment. Not only can volunteer service be fun and rewarding,  it looks great on resumes and college applications! For young students, it's a great way to help them develop skills, make professional connections, and allows them to better the lives of others. For me, the benefits are more complex than looking good on an application or creating professional connections. I care for my home and in turn love my local area/community. By volunteering, I am doing my part to make my community better, not for any personal benefits, just because I think it's our duty as citizens to try and improve the area in which we live, and reduce our ecological footprint.Volunteering gives people a chance to work towards something they believe in, whether it be feeding the hungry or keeping blount Beautiful! People are the driving force of change and through volunteering, people can work together for a common goal, that it turn benefits the community and society.

In conclusion, volunteering is a great way to make a positive impact in your local community. Volunteering can take many forms such as helping church groups, non-profits, or doing roadside cleanups. Volunteering helps the community by having a concerned, involved populace who work to create a better community than there was yesterday. There are many ways to volunteer, and no matter what way you choose to help the community, remember volunteering of all kind is important, so go out and volunteer, and Keep Blount Beautiful!

Old electronics? Don't throw them away!

By Mason Denman

As technology continues to advance, new models of tv’s, cell phones, and computers come out every year. For the majority of people, everyone wants the newest model, with the newest gadgets and features. That old computer is now probably useless to you as you open your sleek new laptop, but what should you do with the outdated technology?

Instead of throwing your unwanted technology in the trash, which puts toxic waste in landfills that can affect the local environment and community, consider electronic recycling. Recycling your old computer can have numerous benefits such as conserving natural resources, supporting your local community and can even help create jobs! When a computer is recycled, it reduces the need to create new materials for new products. Parts off of older models can oftentimes be reused such as plastic and glass, thus reducing the amount of plastic and glass needed to create new computers. Recycling your old computer means it can be refurbished and given to those in the community who might not have the financial means to acquire new computers. Schools, low income families, students, libraries and charitable organizations could utilize and benefit greatly from these donated computers. Just by changing how you dispose of your old computer, you can help provide technology to those in need in your community! Lastly, electronic recycling can help create jobs. When electronics are recycled and cannot be refurbished or reused, they are sent to a local electronics recycling plants to be processed. The more people in the community recycle their old computers and electronics, the more people needed to operate the recycling plant, creating jobs.

For those old computers and electronics sitting around at your house, consider recycling them. By doing so, you’ll benefit the environment, your community, and leave you feeling good knowing you’re doing your part to make a difference in your environment and community!

Do those bananas really need to be put in a plastic bag?

By Brittney Whipple

Bananas, onions, apples, and cucumbers are just a few items commonly found in the produce section of the grocery store. Also seen in the produce section: rolls of plastic produce bags. Often, I see shoppers put bunches of bananas- or even just a single apple!- in a plastic produce bag.

The plastic bag certainly would not protect the produce against bruising. It would also not keep the produce clean, as it has already been exposed to the public and should be washed anyway. So why are we bagging these items, just to be bagged again at checkout?

So larger items, such as bananas and apples, don’t need a bag, but what about smaller produce? By “smaller” I mean things such as green beans, brussel sprouts, and creamer potatoes. Certainly you’re not going to place a handful of green beans straight into your cart, but have you considered bringing a reusable bag just for this purpose? Even reusing plastic bags for this purpose would be a smart way to reduce waste.

Everyone is human, and sometimes we forget to put our reusable bags in the car before a shopping trip. The habit of remembering our bags is one that surely should be developed, but in a world obsessed with manufacturing plastic blame can’t really be placed on the consumer, and plastic waste is not something the consumer can avoid completely. However, there are little things we can do to control our personal plastic waste.

Simply put, we encourage you to be mindful when picking out produce and think twice before you bag it. By noticing things about our habits that we haven't before, we can better understand how to be less wasteful.

How does the landfill work?

By Brittney Whipple

What is a landfill?

The words ‘landfill’ and ‘dump’ are often used interchangeably, but they are actually two very different things! A dump is a place where trash is put illegally, causing many environmental hazards and a huge eye sore. A landfill is a complex system of burying trash that is safe and legal. All of the trash in Blount County is sent to the Alcoa/Maryville/Blount County Landfill.

How the landfill works

Once you throw something away in your home, chances are you don’t think about it again. However, that is just the beginning of the journey. After the garbage truck picks up the trash from your curb or parking lot, it is taken to the landfill. When entering the landfill, trucks drive over a large scale to be weighed. The truck then drives to the cell that is currently open in the landfill to dump the garbage, and a big tractor drives over the garbage to compact it. The trucks then drive over a scale when exiting to be weighed again. The difference in weight determines the weight of the garbage that was dropped off. It costs $50 a ton to put garbage in the landfill. Each day, 250-300 tons are buried!

When entering the landfill, trucks must first stop at the scale house to be weighed.

A landfill cell is a portion of the land that is used to occupy waste. The cells are made up of layers of dirt and garbage. Once a layer of garbage reaches the height limit (about 10-15 feet), a layer of dirt is placed on top before starting a new layer of garbage. Each night, the exposed layer is covered with thick, heavy plastic to keep everything in place and the animals away.

In addition to the cells reserved for regular, household garbage, there is a cell reserved for demolition waste. This waste includes old furniture and construction materials. Each day, about 100-175 tons of demolition waste is dumped into the landfill.

Demolition waste is kept separate from household waste since it is much cheaper to bury, mainly because no leachate system needs to be installed. Leachate is the liquid that garbage creates that needs to be drained out of the landfill and cleaned. A collection system catches the leachate in the cells holding household garbage. The leachate is sent to a treatment plant to be cleaned before it is sent back into the environment to avoid pollution.

The other thing rotting garbage produces is methane gas- which smells horrible! However, at the Alcoa/Maryville/Blount County Landfill there is a Methane Gas to Energy Collection System that captures the gas and recycles it into energy. Since the landfill has a system of capturing the gas, there is no smell! Methane produced by garbage in the landfill is captured through gas wells, hooked up to a generator to make electricity, and sold to TVA.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

The Alcoa/Maryville/Blount County Landfill has been in operation since 1974 (43 years). It is estimated that there are about 50-60 years left until the 262 acres of land is filled. How can we make sure the landfill lasts as long as possible?

Around 20 years ago, the landfill received 100,000 lbs of garbage a year with a population of 80,000 in Blount County. Currently, the landfill receives 80,000 lbs of garage a year with a larger population of 124,000. Practices of reducing, reusing, and recycling help extend the life of our landfill so it can last as long as possible.

What do we do once a landfill cell is full?

When a cell in the landfill is full, grass is planted on top and it appears as a large hill. Permanent buildings and structures cannot be built on a capped cell because there is no strong foundation; when the trash starts decomposing, the ground will start to sink. Alternative uses for capped landfill cells include sports fields and walking trails. At the Alcoa/Maryville/Blount County Landfill, a full cell is now a small airfield for the Blount County Model Aviators.

A full cell in the landfill has been turned into a small air field for use by the Blount County Model Aviators

Alcoa/Maryville/Blount County Landfill Information

Address: 240 Long Powers Rd., Friendsville

Hours of operation: Monday-Friday 8am-5:30pm

Scalehouse phone number: 865-995-2892

Website: http://www.cityofalcoa-tn.gov/250/Landfill-Services

 Services provided by the landfill:

 Trash Convenience Center: residents are welcome to drop their garbage off at the landfill rather than use a garbage service. Garbage fees depend on the weight of the trash.

Electronic and appliance recycling: Since electronics and appliances are hazardous and cannot be buried in the landfill, the landfill accepts them for recycling. Contact the landfill for pricing.

Tire recycling: Tires cannot be buried in the landfill, but the landfill also accepts old tires for recycling.

Landfill Tours
Keep Blount Beautiful provides tours of the Alcoa/Maryville/Blount County Landfill to schools and residents free of charge. To schedule a tour, fill out our online form or contact the office at 865-681-4809. Please note that schools and large groups will need their ow

Haven't Landed on a New Year's Resolution Yet? We got you

By Rachel Grubbe

2018 was not a great year for the environment. We experienced powerful hurricanes, raging forest fires, and rising sea levels. Our individual choices are impacting the entire planet. This is not a shocking revelation, but it needs to be said, repeatedly. The new year is a perfect time to reevaluate and modify your lifestyle so you can be more eco-friendly. We have some great new year’s resolutions you can try out this year.

Plastic packaging in supermarkets
BREAKING NEWS: Plastic is Bad
Okay, this is certainly not breaking news, but it is still worth mentioning. Hopefully, by now you have kicked your disposable plastic water bottle addiction, it’s 2019 move on, it's done. BUT, have you realized how many everyday items are in plastic containers. You know what I’m talking about, right? That produce that comes in a plastic bag, or is in a plastic box or is wrapped in plastic film. Bad, straight up bad.

This year when hitting up your local grocery store buy the items that are plastic free, or at least have the smallest amount of plastic.

Organic material: trash or plant food?

Are you throwing organic matter in the trash? Compost it. The biggest contributor to landfills is food waste; the EPA reports 22 percent of landfill intake is food waste. Composting is the recycling of organic material back into the soil. You don’t need to have a great big garden to compost. Composting is great for trees and shrubs you likely have in your yard. If you have access to some dirt and a shovel you can probably do this. Easy peasy.

2019 is the year y’all start composting, I can feel it.

But, how do you get protein?

Ah, the question I have been getting my entire adult life. I am no doctor, but I can tell you with certainty that cutting out or reducing meat from your diet will be okay. The meat industry is a BIG contributor to global warming. Look, meat is neat. If you want to wrap a hot dog in deli meat or whatever, you do you. But, maybe just not every day. Maybe your meat days are like Wednesdays and weekends. You could do that, right?

So here are my plant-based diet new years resolution suggestions:

Stop adding meat to things that don’t require meat
If you ask me spaghetti pairs with a nice leafy salad better than a meatball. So, when preparing a meal think does this need meat? Ham sandwich? Yea, it needs meat. Salad? Nope, skip the chicken.

Only eat meat for special occasions
If you go out to dinner and there are only two veggie options and they both sound terrible. Alright, get the burger. Holiday, birthdays, anniversaries, dinner with grandma. Eat what you want.

Just quit eating meat
Aren’t you hungry? Don’t you think a vegetarian diet is boring? So, do you just eat super healthy? No, no, and uh nah. Vegetarians eat a wide range of food. Including popcorn and beer, which are personal favorites/staples in my diet.

2019 is the year folks. You can make a difference by making good choices regarding the environment. Your decisions matter, they are impactful. Again for the people in the back… Your choices impact the planet.